Boxoffice > The Business of Movies > Steve Simels > If It's Monday, It Must Be Shameless Filler (An Occasional Series): Puttin' on the Ritz

If It's Monday, It Must Be Shameless Filler (An Occasional Series): Puttin' on the Ritz

posted April 6, 2009 5:47 AM

From 20th Century Fox in 1939, let us now give thanks for director Allan Dwan's version of The Three Musketeers. Featuring the less famous than they should be Ritz Brothers, Don Ameche, Gloria Stuart(!) and the majestic British (of Jewish/Italian descent) actress Binnie Barnes as the villainous Lady DeWinter.

Why do I love this movie? Oh, I don't know...perhaps it's because it features my favorite musical number of all time...

...and my second favorite as well.

Seriously -- the glorious Richard Lester films notwithstanding, this remains my favorite version of the oft-told Dumas story, and as you can see from the first clip, the redoubtable Harry Ritz -- he's the one in the middle -- has a couple of dance moves that were definitely appropriated by a certain Nutty Professor a few decades later.

In any case, I'm pleased to report that the Ritz's Three Musketeers is available on a DVD from an all but pristine print. You can -- and very definitely should -- order it here.

4 Comments

Sid Sherman said:

Jerry Lewis isn't the only guy who loved Harry Ritz...Mel Brooks is a huge fan. Put him in a cameo in Silent Movie, if memory serves.

April 6, 2009 5:53 AM

The Phantom Creep said:

I love that movie. Didn't know Binnie Barnes was half-Jewish, though. Score another one for my team!!!!
:-)

April 6, 2009 10:20 AM

Gwen De Marco said:

Silly, clever, and funny!

April 6, 2009 11:36 AM

Janna Ritz said:

Dont forget about Milton Berle, too! He took his 'drag" from Harry! But hey, Harry was Happy and Honored that there were many talented people out there that loved what he did,and integrated their own talents with Harry's, and The Ritz Brothers. This clip shows me where I got my coordination from! And that I can do more than one thing at a time, ha ha!!

May 1, 2009 4:50 AM

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Steve Simels has written about music and movies for Sound and Vision magazine (formerly Stereo Review) since the early 70s. He has also contributed to Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and the Wall Street Journal. He’s the author of “Gender Chameleons: Androgyny in Rock n Roll” (Arbor House, 1985), and blogs at PowerPop.blogspot.com. His ambition in life is to play the Leslie Howard role in a remake of “Petrified Forest.”